Wizards Notebook

'Energy Plays' Lead to Offense for Wizards' Dominic McGuire

Network News

Dominic McGuire is on the court primarily for his defense and rebounding, but the second-year forward, who made his 31st start last night against San Antonio, has the athleticism to occasionally be a weapon at the offensive end as well.

During Friday's 107-96 win at New Jersey, McGuire finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks and scored a key basket late in the game on a turnaround jump shot over Keyon Dooling. That score stopped a Nets run and helped the Wizards pull away for their second straight win.

Most of the time however, McGuire knows that he has to get his scores on hustle.

"I don't have plays run for me so I have to get mine on energy plays," said McGuire, who entered last night's game averaging 3.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 22.3 minutes. "I have to go for rebounds and get stuff in transition. Those are the things I really try to concentrate on."

However, interim coach Ed Tapscott pointed to that McGuire score late in Friday's win as an example of how his understanding of game situations has improved.

"That's the maturation of an NBA player," Tapscott said. "They switched a smaller guard onto him and he recognized that, 'Hey, I've got a smaller guy on me,' and he backed him down and then, he didn't settle for a tough shot, he took a good shot. He got his shot. He earned that shot. Those are the kinds of things a young player learns the more he plays and the more he gets comfortable."